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Federal & REgulatory Issue Updates

The NWPCA is the largest international organization of wood packaging professionals in the world. The wooden pallet industry is an $11.5 billion American success story, and there are nearly 3,000 mostly small family businesses operating in all 50 states and nearly every Congressional district.

We are an integral piece of the American supply chain and logistics industry, from forest and farm to factory and fork. While the pallet industry contends with the same issues as most American businesses and manufacturers, it has its own specific issues including those below:

Current Issues and Updates

Corrugated Pallets Fail Oregon State TestsOn January 27, 2016, House Bill 4089 was introduced in the Oregon legislature to give a purchasing preference to corrugated pallets over wood pallets. NWPCA worked closely with organizations in Oregon and the WPA on countering this initiative which was ultimately defeated. In February 2017, the Oregon Dept. of Corrections ultimately analyzed and turned down a proposed pilot program due to cost and viability issues.

International Code Council Update
In October 2013, a proposal in front of the International Code Council (ICC) would have eliminated up to 60% of this industry’s outdoor pallet storage space. Discussions are currently taking place regarding potential further attempts at restricting outdoor pallet storage space, including restrictions limiting stacks to six feet in height.

Invasive Species
As per Executive Order 13112 an "invasive species" is defined as a species that is 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive species can be plants, animals and other organisms.

food safety modernization act
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Obama in 2011. It aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators from responding to contamination to preventing it.

LABOR

NWPCA members are subject to stringent regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The wooden pallet industry supports a fair and reasonable regulatory process that fosters public-private partnerships.